Chocolate may have some incredible health benefits that could potentially help us live longer, and I’m here to tell you all about it.
The Cocoa Connection to Longevity
We often talk about the health benefits of plants and the amazing compounds they contain. Plants are rich in polyphenols, and cocoa, which comes from plants, is no exception. In particular, cocoa contains a subgroup of polyphenols called flavanols, with one superstar flavanol called epicatechin.
The Fascinating Study
A recent study by Sesso et al. delved into the potential of cocoa to impact atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This study was groundbreaking, involving a vast number of participants (21,442 to be exact), and it explored the effects of cocoa flavanol supplementation on ASCVD.
The findings were truly remarkable. The group taking cocoa supplements had a 27% relative risk reduction in ASCVD deaths compared to the placebo group. This is a significant reduction in mortality, and it suggests that cocoa flavanols could play a role in delaying the onset of ASCVD, which is responsible for nearly 875,000 deaths every year.
The Chocolate Dilemma
Of course, the big question is, how much chocolate do you need to consume to enjoy these potential benefits? The cocoa supplements used in the study are more concentrated in polyphenols than the chocolate bars we typically find in stores. So, while it’s a delightful thought, you’d need to eat an impractical amount of chocolate daily to match the flavanol intake of the study.
Eating ten servings of dark chocolate every day might sound appealing in theory, but it could lead to unwanted weight gain and other health concerns due to the high sugar and fat content.
Should You Try Cocoa Supplements?
If you’re curious about giving cocoa supplements a try, it’s worth noting that the greatest impact might be for those already at high risk of vascular-related diseases. Smoking history, for example, seems to play a significant role in the benefits of cocoa supplements. If you’re not a smoker, the advantages might be less pronounced.
It’s important to remember that this study was partly funded by a company that produces cocoa supplements, but the research was conducted independently, and the results are intriguing.
In a nutshell, while cocoa flavanol supplements might not completely change the likelihood of ASCVD events, they could potentially reduce the severity of these events, leading to better outcomes and fewer ASCVD-related deaths. Every little advantage in our journey to better health counts, and these findings are certainly intriguing.